Category Archives: Family Law
How a Change to Georgia’s Equitable Caregiver Law Might Affect Fathers’ Rights
When a child’s parents are no longer together or are unable to provide care for a period of time, non-parents often fill the gap so that the youth has proper adult supervision. In some cases, this occurs when a mother has primary custody of her son or daughter and then embarks on a new relationship […]
Georgia Couple Retains Parental Rights After Claiming Medical Condition Was Mistaken for Abuse
Healthcare professionals and child protection authorities have a duty to protect young people from physical abuse that occurs within their homes. In severe cases, parental rights could be terminated if there is evidence of mistreatment. These situations can get very complicated if parents deny allegations of abuse and there are differing opinions as to how […]
What Are the Most Common Parenting Time Schedules Used in Georgia?
When parents of minor children don’t live together, they should cooperate to create a workable schedule that allows each one to have frequent, meaningful contact with their son or daughter. What many people refer to as visitation is known as parenting time under Georgia law and by hiring an experienced family law attorney, you can […]
Georgia Updates Child Support Standards
Establishing fair child support terms is critical for parents who live apart due to a separation, divorce or the fact that they were never married. In an effort to divide financial responsibilities in an equitable manner, Georgia uses a formula that considers each parent’s income and other relevant information to set a guideline child support […]
A Guide to Parenting Plans in Georgia Child Custody Cases
In Georgia, whenever child custody becomes an issue, a parenting plan is a legal necessity. This document, also referred to as a custody agreement, acts as a roadmap for how parents will continue to cooperate in raising their children despite living in separate households. Parenting plans are unique to each family’s situation, but these key […]
Crafting a Workable Joint Custody Schedule in Georgia
Georgia family courts more and more are approving joint physical custody arrangements for divorcing couples. Joint custody usually means a 50/50 arrangement, in which child spends equal time in each parent’s home. While there are multiple factors considered in a custody decision, a court will generally go along with a 50/50 schedule if it is […]
Proving a Contested Paternity Case in Georgia
In Georgia, as elsewhere in the country, the paternity of a child can affect multiple legal rights and benefits, among them child support payments and health insurance coverage. It can also be important to determining the child’s medical needs based on the father’s genetic and health history. Paternity further establishes a child’s right to inherit […]
Can Grandparents Obtain Visitation Rights in Georgia?
In a divorce or other court case where child custody is at issue, an unfortunate result can be an upset in a child’s family life. This may include interruption of a beneficial relationship, such as one with a grandparent. Georgia law recognizes the right of grandparents to seek visitation with their grandchildren, but the exercise […]
What To Know About Adopting a Relative in Georgia?
When parents are not able to care for a child due to any number of circumstances, Georgia law permits a relative to adopt the child and assume full rights and responsibilities for their care. A child may be adopted by any living adult who is related to them by blood or by marriage. This may […]
Common Visitation Violations and What to Do About Them
Child custody after a divorce can be a source of perpetual friction between ex-spouses. Some of the most troublesome problems concern visitation, also known in Georgia as parenting time. This generally occurs when the custodial parent intrudes upon the other parent’s rights as set forth in the custody order. When this occurs, the noncustodial parent […]
